Students targeted in safe taxi campaign

STUDENTS, newly arrived in Liverpool, are being made aware of a scheme ensuring they have a safe night out. They are being targeted in a campaign to tell them about the taxi marshalling scheme in the city centre.

The scheme by Citysafe; Liverpool’s Community Safety Partnership, is designed to help members of the public leave the city centre after a night out quickly and safely, It operates from the taxi rank in Victoria Street (corner of Stanley Street) on Friday and Saturday nights from midnight to 4am. In addition, marshals also patrol other ranks in the city centre.

Uniformed marshals, all of whom are Security Industry Authority trained, maintain an orderly queue at the rank. Customers are directed them to the first available taxi in a controlled and safe environment.  If any disorder breaks out marshals are able to radio the police for additional support and can also alert pubs and clubs in the city centre.

Since January 2011, the marshals have dealt with 187 incidences of queue jumping, 4 arrests have been made, 7 taxi drivers reported for cherry picking and 9 people removed from the ranks for such issues as not having money to pay once they got into the taxi.  This year’s city centre perceptions survey found that 88% of people who use a marshalled rank feel safe.

The new campaign is aimed at students who have recently arrived in the city. Posters and flyers with the message "Had a Good Night? Need a Taxi? No Trouble" are being distributed around pubs and clubs popular with students.

"The marshalling scheme helps anybody who needs a taxi after a night out in the city centre, but students who are still finding their way around may not be aware of this scheme.   The city centre is one of the safest in the country and initiatives like this contribute to reducing anti-social behaviour and help people feel safer. After a night out, people, want to be able to get home without any hassle and the marshalling scheme ensures they can get taxis without trouble." said Councillor Ann O’Byrne, cabinet member for community safety,

Did you know that??? Citysafe also supports the Student Survival Guide which provides advice on a wide range of issues and in partnership with Universities is distributed to students across Liverpool. There is also a dedicated Studentsafe website with the link to the guide.   

Southport Access For Everyone

THE next meeting of the ‘Southport Access For Everyone’ forum will be held at Victoria Methodist Church, Sussex Road, Southport PR8 6DG, on Monday, 31 October 2011, at 7.00 pm. This is a free public meeting. The premises are fully accessible for wheelchair users, with adequate car parking facilities, and light refreshments will be served during the meeting.  Anyone with an interest in disability issues is welcome.  Our meeting days will usually be on the 4th Monday of each alternate month, but please note that this month the meeting is on the 31 October 2011. The date of our next meeting will always be advertised prior to each meeting.

Southport brewery to attend Great Northern Beer festival

A Southport brewery will showcase some of its finest ales at this year’s Great Northern Beer Festival.  The Southport Brewery will submit a total of 2 cask ales in the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA), North Region Beer Competition 2011.

The Southport Brewery is one of 80 from across the north to enter the competition. The 80 breweries, 23 more than last year, have entered a total of 250 casks of beer, which translates to 18,000 pints.

After judging, the doors will be opened to the public to drink the entries at the Mercure Piccadilly Hotel in Manchester city centre, between October 27 to 29. An entire temporary cellar, properly chilled, will be installed in the International Suite of the hotel.

Festival organiser, Alex Brodie said;- "This is the brewers themselves taking control of exhibiting their beers to the public. To ensure the beer is in the best possible condition, we need to sell it within three days, which is why we are doing this in a city centre location with a low entry fee – to get as many people through the door as possible.  And it is in a city centre hotel, considerably posher than your average beer festival."

The breweries across the North are providing the beer free of charge and Greater Manchester CAMRA (The Campaign for Real Ale) is managing the cellar and the bar.

All the beer will be served "in the Northern manner", with a creamy head, which makes this beer festival unique.

The traditional British pint is undergoing a revival with drinkers shunning high volume produced beers and switching to high quality local brews, with women making up 32% of real ale converts.  For more information about the event, click here.

Merseytravel unveils John Newton exhibition

AN exhibition celebrating the life and achievements of John Newton has opened at Merseytravel’s Pier Head Ferry Terminal Building in Liverpool. The building houses a sculpture dedicated to the memory of reformed slaver, former Tide Surveyor of Liverpool and author of the hymn "Amazing Grace", by Liverpool artist and sculptor Stephen Broadbent.  The free exhibition, in association with Merseytravel’s Public Art project, charts the life of John Newton through his birth in London, desertion from the British Navy, virtual slavery in Sierra Leone, slave trading, conversion and Christian ministry, including his campaigning with MP William Wilberforce to abolish the British slave trade.  The Pier Head Ferry Terminal Building, in front of the Three Graces on Liverpool’s World Heritage waterfront, boasts a new Mersey Ferries ticket office, shop, improved passenger facilities, Hamilton’s café and a new extension to the Beatles Story, with its Fab4D experience, the Beatles Hidden Gallery and ‘Elvis and Us' exhibition. The exhibition is open during Pier Head Terminal Building opening hours.  For further information see:- johnnewton.org.